Happy Friday, Missians!
Once again we find ourselves at another week's end. I hope all of you have had an awesome work week, and are ready to have some Pet Spooktacular fun this weekend! I know I am; but before we get to the fun stuff, let's get a little business out of the way first. Today's post is on a subject that I kind of harp on every year, (but for a good reason). This is actually a very important topic this time of year, for those you who are black cat parents and/or lovers.
With Halloween right around the corner, we need to be vigilant about protecting our ebony-colored feline friends more than ever. Besides sickos who want to potentially use them in rituals and sacrifices; there is also the potential for people to want them just for the sake of having a Halloween accessory, (this component is mainly a risk for black cats in shelters). So, let's stop perpetuating the negative stereotyping of black cats as being evil and associated with Halloween. You rarely see such images of other animals portrayed in this way, (except maybe for bats).
So, with that being said, we'll move on to the subject at hand, (and afterwards, discuss the fun stuff).
Today's black cat safety information is courtesy of petmedicalfresno.com:
https://petmedicalfresno.com/2015/10/17/black-cat-crossing-myths-realities-and-halloween-safety/
Once again we find ourselves at another week's end. I hope all of you have had an awesome work week, and are ready to have some Pet Spooktacular fun this weekend! I know I am; but before we get to the fun stuff, let's get a little business out of the way first. Today's post is on a subject that I kind of harp on every year, (but for a good reason). This is actually a very important topic this time of year, for those you who are black cat parents and/or lovers.
With Halloween right around the corner, we need to be vigilant about protecting our ebony-colored feline friends more than ever. Besides sickos who want to potentially use them in rituals and sacrifices; there is also the potential for people to want them just for the sake of having a Halloween accessory, (this component is mainly a risk for black cats in shelters). So, let's stop perpetuating the negative stereotyping of black cats as being evil and associated with Halloween. You rarely see such images of other animals portrayed in this way, (except maybe for bats).
So, with that being said, we'll move on to the subject at hand, (and afterwards, discuss the fun stuff).
Today's black cat safety information is courtesy of petmedicalfresno.com:
https://petmedicalfresno.com/2015/10/17/black-cat-crossing-myths-realities-and-halloween-safety/
BLACK CAT CROSSING: MYTHS, REALITIES, AND HALLOWEEN SAFETY
The Cat Fanciers’ Association recognizes 22 different felines breeds that boast a solid black fur coat, such as the exquisite Bombay cat. And, while an individual black cat may possess countless other attributes (or shall we say, cat-tributes), what most people see is simply all that black fur – and have either an interpretation of folklore or an unfair prejudice. Indeed, black cats feature heavily in cross-cultural imagery, leading us to question what’s real, what’s not, and how to best protect black cats around Halloween.
Superstition And Stigma
A black cat is three times less likely to be adopted at a shelter than a cat of a different color, especially a white or orange one. Suffering a similar fate to a BBD, or Big Black Dog syndrome, an all black cat is typically at the shelter longest, and one of the first to be euthanized.
But why do people feel so negatively about a black cat’s dark fur? Some people purport that it’s harder to read an expression on a black cat, or it’s harder to capture a black cat’s face in a selfie. Or, could it be that people around the world simply accept the myriad cultural fallacies or fictions as fact, such as:
- The Cat Sith from Celtic mythology is supposed to haunt the Scottish Highlands and steal the soul of the recently departed
- During the European middle ages and early American history, black cats were killed because they were thought to be evil and associated with witchcraft
- Crossing paths with a black cat is considered bad luck in many parts of the world
Halloween Is A Scary Time
Halloween is frightening to a black cat for reasons apart from our own. Black cats are obviously hard to see at night, and can quickly go missing during the evening’s revelry.
We recommend that your Halloween pet safety to-do list include keeping all pets indoors during Halloween, but black cats are especially at risk. Unfortunately, people may wish to hurt or harm a black cat on or around Halloween. As a result, many shelters do prohibit the adoption of black coated animals around Halloween.
Your Black Cat Is Good Luck
A harbinger of blessings? Maybe. Unconditional love? Absolutely. Your black cat is probably one of the finest felines you’ve ever encountered, and we’d have to agree. Black cats are usually very cuddly – and if they do shed on your black pants, no one will ever know!
Contrary to popular belief, black cats are also:
- Very sociable
- Highly vocal
- Considered very good luck in Great Britain and Japan
- Always ready to attend a black-tie affair (but won’t attend to keep up that whole aloof image thing they have going)
And for more information on Black Cat Safety, check out the article, "How Dangerous is Halloween for Black Cats?" at the link below:
https://www.petful.com/behaviors/how-dangerous-is-halloween-for-black-cats/
So, as I always say, just be sure to keep your midnight felines safe inside on Halloween and the weeks leading up to it. For the most part, perhaps they would be fine, but why take that risk? And don't forget to keep any pet inside on Halloween night, since they could be easily frightened by all the noise and revelry, and dart out the front door.
Now for the fun stuff:
D and I will be doing our last Pet Spooktacular episode tomorrow night on Google Hang Outs at 8 pm, entitled, "Wanna Hear a Story? Terrifying, Alleged Real Monster Stories." The episode will be available after the show on The Missy Show You Tube channel. And we'll have one more October Pet Spooktacular blog post on Halloween Day, titled, "The Darker Side of Santa Claus."
We look forward to seeing you tomorrow night! C'mon, don't be scared. You can do it one more time...or can you?
Until tomorrow,
This is your host J,
signing off...
See you then!
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| Our very own black panther, Kittyman |
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